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Paul W. Smith signs 7-year contract with WJR

Paul W. Smith's voice will continue to grace Detroit-area radio waves for another seven years.

Atlanta-based Cumulus Media signed a seven-year contract for its veteran morning show host on WJR-AM 760.

“I’m thrilled, especially considering the length,” said Smith, who can be heard weekday mornings 5:30-9 a.m. “My belief, from what I’ve heard from a number of people in our business, is that this is unheard of.”

Smith, who was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in November, has been on WJR since 1996, when he took over for J.P. McCarthy, the station’s voice for 30 years. Smith had worked across the country, from New York to Ohio, before landing back near his hometown of Monroe. And he certainly didn't want to leave now.

“I like Detroit; I made a commitment to Detroit coming back in 1996,” said Smith, 60. “The good stuff is just about to begin with the turnaround. This would be a horrible time to leave.”

Don’t expect big changes from the newsman, though. Over the next seven years, Smith said he intends to bring on more newsmakers and “continue to be a reliable source of level-headed information and entertainment.”

He also intends to keep bringing his trademark optimism, whether it’s about Detroit itself or even the Lions.

“I’m a homer; I’m a shameless homer,” he said. “But if you’re on the radio in Detroit, you better be a homer. … Though even I, the optimist, was down on Tuesday after that Lions game.”

Cumulus Media also announced in December that it launched a country music station in the Detroit market, NASH-FM 93.1.

“I couldn’t think of a better city to launch our NASH brand right now, " said John Dickey, co-COO and executive vice president of Cumulus, in a statement. "Detroit is everything country music represents – Made in America, for Americans and authentically America. Country is hugely popular in Detroit and the surrounding communities."